Adams, a senior, was the only unanimous choice for the first team and was a candidate for preseason player of the year, but that honor went to guard B.J. Taylor of Central Florida. The conference’s coaches vote on the preseason awards and team rankings, which were released Monday morning as the AAC’s Media Day got underway.

UConn, under new coach Dan Hurley, was picked fifth in the preseason poll, behind Central Florida, Cincinnati Houston and Memphis. A sign the conference really has no clear-cut favorites: the first four teams all received at least one first-place vote, with UCF, which has eight of its top 10 scorers returning, getting six of the 12.

Terrance Cobb, like any father, knows the sides of his son that few see. He knows what Eric Cobb can do when he puts his mind to it, knows when he goes down the wrong path and how to help steer him right.

“Eric took swimming lessons one year,” Terrance said, “and he was always the tallest kid in...

Wichita State, which lost much of its NCAA Tournament-caliber team from last season, was picked eighth.

The Huskies, 14-18 overall, were 7-11 in conference play last season, getting the eighth seed in the AAC Tournament. In league history, dating back to 2013, UConn has never been higher than a fourth seed, but has been picked first or second in the preseason several times.

Joining Adams on the All-AAC first team are Taylor, Quinton Rose of Temple, Jeremiah Martin of Memphis and Jarron Cumberland of Cincinnati. The second team had six players due to a tie in the voting: Corey Davis, of Houston, Tacko Fall of UCF, Markis McDuffie of Wichita State, Jarrey Foster and Jahmal McMurray of SMU and Sterling Taplin of Tulsa.

Adams averaged 18.1 points and 4.7 assists last season. During his three seasons at UConn, he has played in 98 games, averaging 12.9 points and 4.3 assists.

Houston guard Nate Hinton was voted the preseason freshman of the year. The award had previously been known as “rookie” of the year, and UConn’s Alterique Gilbert had won it in 2016 and 2017, having been injured and missing most of his true freshman season.